Ives: Sonata No. 2 for Piano, “Concord, Mass., 1840-60”

SOMETHING TO KNOW:

This transcendentalism-inspired sonata has movements depicting Ralph Waldo Emerson (Slowly), Nathaniel Hawthorne (Very fast), Bronson and Louisa May Alcott (Moderately), and Henry David Thoreau (Starting slowly and quietly).

SOMETHING TO LISTEN FOR:

Ives named the main theme the ‘human faith melody.’ It appears in all four movements, but its clearest statement is in The Alcotts, where it appears near the end as a rousing hymn.

Recorded live in the Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Studio on April 30, 2015.

Video directed by Tristan Cook